By Staff Reporter
WILKES BARRE, Pennsylvania,- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Friday she will cut college degree requirements for certain federal jobs if elected president as the Democratic presidential candidate and her Republican rival have been making economic pledges to woo voters.
Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are in a tight race for the Nov. 5 U.S. elections. Harris has previously said she will aim to pass a middle class tax cut, while Trump has advocated for cutting taxes on overtime pay. Both candidates have supported eliminating taxes on tips.
“As president, I will get rid of the unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs to increase jobs for folks without a four-year degree,” Harris said in her speech in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
More than 62% of Americans age 25 or older did not hold a bachelor’s degree, according to data released, opens new tab by the U.S. Census Bureau in early 2023. Americans without college degrees made up three out of five voters in 2020.
The Democratic presidential candidate said on Friday the U.S. should recognize the value of paths to success beyond a college degree, like apprenticeships and technical programs.
A degree does not necessarily indicate a person’s skills, Harris said. She added: “And I will challenge the private sector to do the same.”
A survey, opens new tab by Gallup and Lumina Foundation released earlier this year found that many Americans are skeptical about the value and cost of college. Over half of U.S. adults who have never been enrolled or once were enrolled said the cost of education was a “very important” reason for them to not sign up or return to college.
Source: Reuters
